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Sunday, May 17, 2009

From: JackieDearMYRTLE,I just wanted to point out that the CW pension index cards do NOT have images at familysearchlabs, it is ONLY the index. I wish they had images, and [perhaps] they are going to add images in the future they haven't as yet.

DearJACKIE,Thanks for the clarification.

Labs.FamilySearch.org and its sister site http://pilot.FamilySearch.org have the index (partial abstract) of the index cards currently in a collection titled Civil War Pension Index Cards.

“This publication contains index cards for pension applications of veterans who served in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, including wars other than the Civil War. Records are sorted by units within regiments from each state in the Union. Find a soldier by searching on his name or browse by regiment. Learn about his term of service, and use the information to request his pension record.” Source: Footnote.com

From those index cards one makes note of the file numbers so as to order the original document files for application, widow’s pension requests, etc. These original files have only had selected pages microfilmed.

Indeed, it would be a monumental task to digitize the entire collection of the complete pension files. Ol’ Myrt recommends obtaining copies of the entire pension file on each ancestor. I’ve copied these in person, and it can be quite time consuming, but well worth the effort. You’ll probably find supportive affidavits from next of kin or soldiers who served with your ancestor.

My Friend Bertha in Texas had me look at her ancestor’s file, and to ur great surprise it contained the wedding portrait of the soldier and his widow. She had submitted the photo as proof of her relationship to the serviceman.